| BIO Mary Cutrufello |
| Connecticut-raised, Yale-educated Mary
Cutrufello spent the 1990's in Texas, where her hard-driving honky-tonk
style won her a loyal following, as well as kudos from the local media
(cover stories in the Dallas Observer and Austin Chronicle, the first
of 2 appearances on "Austin City Limits"), and such Texas legends as
Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Joe Ely, and Johnny Bush. Her first
CD, 1996's live-to-tape "who to love + when to leave," showcased her
gritty take on the honky-tonk tradition, and was hailed as "quite
simply one of the sharpest, most essential country albums of the last
decade" by Matt Weitz in the Dallas Observer. (Mary reissued "who to
love" in 2005, on a single CD with her 1992 cassette "...and the
Havoline Supremes.") After that came a
stylistic move back toward the rock that Cutrufello grew up on. While
it left a few Texans confused, Cutrufello reminded them that "rock and
roll is where I'm from, and as much as I love country, I have to give
that part of me its voice too." In 1998, she released the
critically-acclaimed "When the Night is Through" on Mercury Records. A
spot on the "Tonight" show followed, as well as another "Austin City
Limits" appearance and tours with the Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule,
among others. But Mercury was swept away in the 1999 merger of
Seagram's and PolyGram, and Mary's album was one of many casualties of
that cataclysm. After some rambling and soul-searching, she ended up in
Minnesota in early 2002.
"I'd moved to Texas to delve into honky-tonk music, and I guess in a way I moved to Minnesota to delve back into that straightforward midwestern rock sound I've always loved," she says. "I'd always had a great time when I passed through the Twin Cities on tour, and with the strong musical energy here, and the world-class players, I knew it'd be a great next place to be." She put together
a band and booked some gigs. "It was definitely starting over. But I
had so much experience, so many miles, that it was actually kind of
cool. We went to (ex-Prince keyboardist) Dr. Fink's studio and cut
three tracks as a demo, which appear on the new album because I didn't
think the performances could be improved upon. That band was that good.
Those were the last recordings I made before the nodes. We were just
starting to build up a head of steam when my voice stopped working."
"The nodes were awful," Cutrufello avers. "They didn't hurt or anything, but I had to shut down the band, basically stop talking for several months--let alone singing--and then do extensive rehab. I can't tell you what a scary feeling it is to open up your mouth and have nothing come out. I mean, my singing was always the most natural part of my game. I'd had some lessons to learn to breathe, but basically what you're hearing is hand-honed emotion. Not being able to sing...well, I'd say my head was messed up even more than my throat." Texas honky-tonk
stalwart turned Minnesota heartland rocker Mary Cutrufello is
back...and back in Texas! Seven years after moving to Minnesota, and
three years after being sidelined with vocal nodes, Cutrufello returns
to Austin with "35," a taut and rockin' collection of songs showcasing
her writing, her guitar playing, and her once-again powerful voice.
"Believe me when I tell you," says Cutrufello almost breathlessly, "Nobody is happier than I am that this record even exists!" And while it is a welcome return to the microphone for the multi-talented and articulate singer/writer/guitarist, it also stands on its own as her strongest collection of songs and performances to date. Guitars chunk, wail, chop, and make all manner of surprising sounds. The vocal chorus of Andra Suchy and Twin Cities legend Mark Lickteig offers daring takes on the traditional backing vocal role. And above it all is Cutrufello's rehabbed and rejuvenated voice, at turns proud and pleading, telling her stories of desperation and redemption, wonder and resolve. 35 is a long road, or a long time, or a point in life when it's a daily fight against the ossifying forces and the leaden pull of comfort. F. Scott Fitzgerald claimed there are no second acts in American lives; 35 is when you find out if that means you. |
| July 11 | Patrice Pike / Ginger Leigh | Poor David's Pub |
| July 18 | Kevin Welsh / Audry Auld Mezera | Uncle Calvin's |
| July 25 | Sioban Quinn & Michael Bowers | Uncle Calvin's |
| Aug 1 | Emily Elbert / Jess Klein | Uncle Calvin's |